Interspecific hybridization between sympatric coastal cutthroat and coastal rainbow/steelhead trout on Vancouver Island, British Columbia: A conservation and evolutionary examination.

Sympatric coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki ) and coastal rainbow/steelhead trout (O. mykiss irideus ) are thought to be reproductively isolated primarily by spatial and temporal separation. However, interspecific hybridization has been documented, thus raising the questions of how widespread hybridization is within their native range, and what are the nature and status of reproductive isolating mechanisms (i.e. prezygotic or postzygotic) in the hybridizing sympatric populations? In a broad survey of 37 populations on Vancouver Island, hybridization between these trout species was found to be widespread (Chapter 2). The frequency of hybridization varied among locations (HI = 3%--88%; II = 2%--54%), with some populations displaying hybrid levels indicative of hybrid swarms and may be undergoing \u27hybrid meltdown\u27. Several environmental factors appear to influence hybridization (e.g. forest harvesting, stocking, habitat availability, watershed size), however, no single factor appears to have a dominant effect. There is no consistent evidence for selection acting against first-generation (F1) hybrids, and in backcross hybrids inconsistent results implicate environment-dependent (i.e. extrinsic) selection (Chapter 3). Hybridization is reciprocal, but nuclear marker patterns show that the direction of hybridization is unidirectional in some populations (n = 5 out of 13 populations). Based on cytonuclear disequilibrium levels, a remarkable reproductive bias appears to exist (i.e. frequency of backcross hybrids with matched nuclear-mitochondrial marker composition exceeded mismatched genotypes). Selection against mismatch genotypes may be occurring, although a behavioural mating bias is more likely.Dept. of Biological Sciences. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis2004 .B44. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 43-01, page: 0157. Adviser: Daniel Heath. Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2004

Simulation of a Surface Thermal Anomaly

The demand for good quality water is rapidly increasing as the result of intensified agricultural practices and modern industry. At present fresh water supplies are adequate to meet the demand in most areas of the country. However, if present trends continue, the need for fresh water will increase faster than the development of freshwater resources. Surface water and ground water comprise the two main forms of fresh water. To date the greatest emphasis has been placed. on the development of surface water reserves although much larger quantities of fresh water are present in the form of ground water. In glaciated areas, water may be present in sand and gravel deposits. These ground water supplies, called aquifers, are often of useable quality and the water can be extracted by conventional pumping techniques. The development of these ground water supplies has progressed slowly since traditional mapping techniques are expensive and time consuming. A mapping method presently used involves the drilling of a series of test wells. Since this process is expensive and time consuming, detailed explorations have not been conducted in many areas. A new geophysical exploration technique called thermal prospecting has recently been proposed. This method is based on the much higher heat capacity of water-saturated material compared to a similar dry material. Water-saturated material in the form of an aquifer will act as a heat sink in the summer and as a heat source in the winter. This temperature deviation is called a thermal anomaly. Thermal anomalies have been measured at a depth of 50 cm for several different locations of known aquifers. The maximum thermal anomaly observed at each site varied from 1°C to 3°C. Myers has reported detecting thermal patterns on the land surface using air-borne thermal remote sensors. Correlations of the temperature differences with the presence of known aquifers have been made and the results indicate that the cooler regions can be associated with the presence of an aquifer. The surface thermal patterns, however, cannot be detected under all conditions. Since these conditions are based on a limited amount of data, no conclusive evidence has been presented. The purpose of this study is to theoretically investigate the relationship between the surface thermal anomaly as detected by Myers and the subsurface anomaly as measured by Cartwright. Selected environmental factors will be varied to determine their effect on the magnitude of the surface thermal anomaly

Individual Human Rights: Reconciling Rights with Value Pluralism

Abstract: This thesis examines the foundations of individual human rights. The general thought that informs the discussion is that rights and values are two different kinds of moral discourse. Hence, any attempt to simply state rights in value terms will be problematic because the agent-relative character of values does not lend itself to grounding/ explaining interpersonal rules, like rights. The thesis outlines agent-relative values, showing their plausibility, and then proceeds to show how rights perform a different function. The attempt to move from talk about what is right to what rights we have is termed the ‘moralist fallacy’. Rights are kinds of restrictions that others face on their actions when they are promoting their own good. Axiology is about how best to achieve one’s objective agent-relative good; so values involve trade offs and calculations agents can perform about what is in their best interest, while rights are not open to trade offs and calculations because they are restrictions that agents face when they are pursuing their own good. The main problem the thesis discerns is how rights can be concerned with protecting the concerns of others when what people legitimately care about are their own concerns. Two different views of the motivational legitimacy of rights are examined—the agent well being view and the agent-recipient view. On the former, rights are motivationally appealing and justified because abiding by them can be shown to be part of what constitutes an agent’s (who is subject to abiding by rights) well being; on the latter view, abiding by rights constitutes part of the recipient’s (who has the rights) well being. Taken separately these two views are problematic. Rights legitimacy would seem to require something from both views. But since these views are contraries they do not seem open to combination either. The thesis will attempt to provide a solution to reconciling the agent well being and agent recipient views while trying to retain the nature of rights as restrictions not open to trade offs or reducible to value talk. Rights function as restrictions, but why do they function this way and how are they justified when what people are mostly concerned with is their own agent-relative good? Rights must be a separate kind of moral claim, not reducible to talk about what values we have in order for rights to have the motivational and justificatory strength they need for interpersonal validity and to resist paternalist interferences. Rights will have this strength if they are based on something that all value pursuers require—such as recognition of one’s legitimate claim to possess oneself. First possession based on first come, first serve will provide legitimacy for a system of rights because it will appeal to and motivate agents by relating rights-respect to their well being. I will argue that abiding by others’ rights is in one’s best interest because doing so is a wise choice—while one might believe that not abiding by others’ rights might give one the best outcome, one cannot be sure about this and so ought to choose to abide by rights as a general policy. Also, agents ought to make sure that they voice their concerns over rights violations of others. Even though this may not be to their immediate benefit, it is rational for agents to speak out on this issue and reinforce rights–respecting behaviour because making the system effective will ultimately be in their own long-term self-interest. The thesis also tries to make sense of how rights are compossible and when rights might face thresholds beyond which they no longer hold

Medievalism in German folk rock: Mittelalter's wild imagining of the Middle Ages

Thesis (M.M.)This thesis explores the role played by medieval images, music, and poetry in the Mittelalter movement of German folk rock in order to uncover its ideological underpinnings and comment on its artistic and social value. This is achieved through analysis of select recordings, music videos, and interviews with Mittelalter artists, as well as "digital ethnography" carried out on fan forums dedicated to Mittelalter bands. It is determined that the movement as a whole has a strong liberal bias and is less concerned with portraying historical accuracy than it is in championing individual freedom, growth, and tolerance. This thesis concludes that its artistic value varies widely but that its great value lies in the culture of collaborative creativity it fosters

Preschool Mathematics Performance and Executive Function: Rural-Urban Comparisons Across Time

This longitudinal study, with urban and rural preschool children, examines the relationship between executive function (EF) and mathematics. A panel of direct and indirect measures of EF were used to determine which EF measures were most predictive and a measure of mathematics assessed both numeracy and geometry skill. One hundred eighteen children, ages 39 to 68 months, and their preschool teachers were included, with assessments given twice, about six months apart. EF measures were compared by the amount of variance in mathematics skill each claimed, including the influence of a child’s age, gender, and rural-urban context. Results suggest the child’s age determines if a panel of direct EF measures is a better predictor of numeracy and geometry skills than the use of a single EF measure. Different EF measures were more strongly related to numeracy versus geometry at Time 1 and Time 2. Differences unrelated to income were found between rural and urban children on numeracy skill but not geometry skill. These results are particularly important to state and regional early childhood directors who work across urban and rural areas, legislators and policymakers, teachers and parents

Crowding and Cognitive Development: The Mediating Role of Maternal Responsiveness Among 36-Month-Old Children

Residential crowding in both U.S. and U.K. samples of 36-month-old children is related concurrently to the Bracken scale, a standard index of early cognitive development skills including letter and color identification, shape recognition, and elementary numeric comprehension. In the U.S. sample, these effects also replicate prospectively. Statistical controls for income, child gender, maternal age, and maternal education are incorporated throughout. In both samples the association between crowding and cognitive development are mediated by maternal responsiveness. Mothers in more crowded homes are less responsive to their children. © 2010 Sage Publications

Porcine Liver Injury Model to Assess Tantalum-Containing Bioactive Glass Powders for Hemostasis

This study evaluates compositions of tantalum-containing mesoporous bioactive glass (Ta-MBG) powders using a porcine fatal liver injury model. The powders based on (80-x)SiO2-15CaO-5P2O5-xTa2O5 compositions with x = 0 (0Ta/Ta-free), 1 (1Ta), and 5 (5Ta) mol% were made using a sol–gel process. A class IV hemorrhage condition was simulated on the animals; hemodynamic data and biochemical analysis confirmed the life-threatening condition. Ta-MBGs were able to stop the bleeding within 10 min of their application while the bleeds in the absence of any intervention or in the presence of a commercial agent, AristaTM (Bard Davol Inc., Rhode Island, USA) continued for up to 45 min. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging of the blood clots showed that the presence of Ta-MBGs did not affect clot morphology. Rather, the connections seen between fibrin fibers of the blood clot and Ta-MBG powders point towards the powders\u27 surfaces embracing fibrin. Histopathological analysis of the liver tissue showed 5Ta as the only composition reducing parenchymal hemorrhage and necrosis extent of the tissue after their application. Additionally, 5Ta was also able to form an adherent clot in worst-case scenario bleeding where no adherent clot was seen before the powder was applied. In vivo results from the present study agree with in vitro results of the previous study that 5Ta was the best Ta-MBG composition for hemostatic purposes. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Preschool Mathematics Performance and Executive Function: Rural-Urban Comparisons across Time

This longitudinal study examined the relationship between executive function (EF) and mathematics with rural and urban preschool children. A panel of direct and indirect EF measures were used to compare how well individual measures, as well as analytic approaches, predicted both numeracy and geometry skill. One hundred eighteen children, ages 39 to 68 months, were given EF and mathematics assessments twice, approximately six months apart, concurrent to their teachers completing an indirect assessment of EF for each child. Results suggest: (1) the child’s age determines if a panel of direct EF measures is a better predictor of numeracy and geometry skills than a single EF measure, (2) geometry and numeracy skill are influenced differently by contextual factors, and (3) the EF-geometry link may develop about six months later than the EF-numeracy connection. As the relationship between preschool age EF and mathematics is better understood, efforts can be made to improve the aspects of EF connected to mathematics skill, which may aid in performance

A systematic review of the accuracy and utility of peritoneal cytology in patients with gastric cancer

Background There is lack of uniformity in the utilization of peritoneal cytology in gastric cancer management. the identification of intraperitoneal free cancer cells (IFCCs) is believed to confer poor prognosis. However, while some of these patients are palliated, others may undergo more aggressive therapies. in this review, we aimed to identify and synthesize findings on the use of peritoneal cytology in predicting peritoneal recurrence and overall survival in curative gastric cancer patients.Methods Electronic literature searches were conducted using Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2009. We determined the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of peritoneal cytology in predicting peritoneal recurrence based on four techniques-conventional cytology, immunoassay, immunohistochemistry, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Recurrence rates and overall survival rates for curative patients were determined, based on positivity or negativity for IFCCs.Results Twenty-eight articles were included. All four techniques showed wide variations in accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity in predicting peritoneal recurrence. Recurrence rates for patients positive for IFCCs ranged from 11.1 to 100%, while those negative for IFCCs had recurrence rates of 0-51%. Overall survival was significantly reduced for patients with positive IFCCs. Short follow-up periods and possible duplication of results may limit result interpretation.Conclusion the presence of IFCCs appears to increase the risk of peritoneal recurrence and is associated with worse overall survival in gastric cancer patients. Further incorporation of peritoneal cytology in clinical decision-making in gastric cancer depends on the development of a consistently accurate and rapid IFCC detection method.Canadian Cancer SocietyOntario Ministry of Health and Long-Term CareUniv Toronto, Dept Surg, Toronto, ON, CanadaSunnybrook Hlth Sci Ctr, Sunnybrook Res Inst, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, CanadaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Surg, São Paulo, BrazilDalhousie Univ, Dept Surg, Halifax, NS B3H 4H2, CanadaQueens Univ, Dept Community Hlth & Epidemiol, Kingston, ON, CanadaSunnybrook Hlth Sci Ctr, Dept Anat Pathol, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, CanadaUniv Toronto, Div Surg Oncol, Sunnybrook Hlth Sci Ctr, Odette Canc Ctr, Toronto, ON, CanadaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Surg, São Paulo, BrazilCanadian Cancer Society: 019325Web of Scienc

Adolescent obesity and maternal and paternal sensitivity and monitoring

Objective . To determine if adolescent obesity is associated with parenting characterized by lower sensitivity and lower monitoring of adolescent activities. Methods . We used data from 744 adolescents in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. Height and weight were measured at age 15½ years and obesity defined as body mass index ≥ 95th percentile for age and sex. Maternal and paternal sensitivity were assessed by direct observation of a parent‐adolescent interaction task. Maternal and paternal monitoring were assessed by parent report. Lower sensitivity and lower monitoring were each defined as the lowest quartiles. Two separate multivariate logistic regression models were created to evaluate, individually for mothers and fathers, associations of sensitivity and monitoring with adolescent obesity, controlling for adolescent sex and race, family income‐to‐needs ratio, and parental obesity. Results . Fourteen percent of the adolescents were obese. Lower sensitivity was associated with adolescent obesity in the maternal parenting model (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.44–3.86, n = 709), but not paternal parenting model (AOR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.38–1.63, n = 460). Neither maternal nor paternal monitoring was associated with adolescent obesity (AOR = 1.03, 95% CI 0.63–1.68; AOR = 1.07, 95% CI 0.52–2.22, respectively). Conclusion . Lower maternal sensitivity, measured by direct observation of parent‐adolescent interactions, was associated with adolescent obesity. Efforts to prevent and treat childhood obesity, both at the practitioner level and the community level, may be enhanced by educating parents that their reactions to their children's behaviors may have consequences related to obesity.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/93554/1/ijpo_345_sm_Appendix.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/93554/2/17477166.2010.549490.pd